Equipping communities in data-deficient areas

The date, time, weather, and name of the body of water is first recorded. A thermometer is then used to determine the air temperature. An approximately 200mL sample of water is then collected using a rinsed sample cup from 10cm below the water surface. A AZ8361 pen-type Conductivity/ Total Dissolved Solids meter is immediately inserted into the water sample to measure the conductivity and temperature of the water sample. A Taylor Technologies Spa test strip is then inserted into the water sample for 2 seconds. The total bromine/pH/total alkalinity/total hardness measurements are recorded from this test strip 20 seconds after it has been taken out of the water sample. A secchi disk is then used to measure water clarity. The secchi disk is slowly lowered into the water, and is stopped at the point at which the observer can no longer see the secchi disk in the water. The original sample is then discarded, and a new sample of water is collected from the location 10cm below the water surface using a Dissolved Oxygen sample cup from the CHEMetrics Dissolves Oxygen K-7512 kit. A dissolved oxygen ampoule is immediately inserted into the sample, and is broken at the weak point in the ampoule. The ampoule is then inverted twice, and the dissolved oxygen measurement is taken after 120 seconds has elapsed. The measurement is taken by comparing the colour of the ampoule to the liquid comparators that are included in the CHEMetrics kit.